The Skinny on your Starbucks fix

The Skinny on your Starbucks fix

What Is Caffeine?

1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, or as it’s commonly known as caffeine, is a naturally occurring substance found in the beans, leaves and fruit of various plants. It is classified as a methylxanthine alkaloid; theobromine, theophylline and paraxanthine are caffeine derivatives, and can also be naturally occurring in singularity. Guaranine, theine, and mateine, found respectively in guarana, tea and yerba mate, are synonymous with caffeine.

It’s most commonly ingested in the form of coffee (beans), tea (leaves), energy drinks (guarana seed, kola nut), and chocolate (cacao beans). It is also readily attainable in OTC forms of pure caffeine tablets and in mixed preparations of analgesics.

Consumption of caffeine worldwide ranges on average at 70mg/day, and in North America, 200mg/day, and in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, 400mg/day. Needless to say, the world is infatuated by it—and potentially addicted to it. To find out what YOU are drinking, here’s a good link:Â The Really Big Caffeine Database

Quick Pros & Cons:

Proven ergogenic

Will cause physical dependence

Will exacerbate adrenal dysfunction

Most common vehicle for caffeine (coffee) has many proven health benefits